First of all I just have to ask you. How many restaurants do you need to
take a boat to get to! Your adventure into the past starts with a boat
ride from the parking area to the island. You get a brief history of the
location from the boat captain on your way over to the island.
Once you arrive you can almost feel the history of the property as you
walk along the dock and follow your nose to the enticing aroma coming
from the kitchen. Stop into the bar and have a drink before dinner and
read the history and see the pictures along the walls of the bar. We
were seated as soon as he arrived and greeted by our waiter Ed who
brought over a basket of warm fresh bread and them read through the
daily specials and explained the various cooking methods to us. We
ordered the “bacon wrapped scallops” as an appetizer and wow they were
amazing. Cooked to perfection the bacon crisp and the scallops cooked
through served over a white sauce.
We had:
The Twin Lobster tails de-shelled, dredged in rice flour then flash
fried and topped with Imperial sauce. Simply increasable! And the Crab
cakes are without a doubt the best that I have ever tasted. I never
thought that I would have a better crab cake than Joe’s but now I found
a new standard.

There are not too many restaurants out there where every single dish you
order is perfect, but this place is pretty darn close. The service was
good, the food came out pretty quick, the decor is nice and period, and
bathrooms are clean but dated. On our way out I made reservations for
our next visit. After leaving we explored the property and had a drink
in the bar. Bartender was very knowledgeable as my Godmother was
excellent. Get there early and soak in the history of explore the area
after dinner. Prices are fairly reasonable and you truly get an
experience with your evening.

Visited March 2016

Melt in
your mouth Seafood!

The history of Caps Place, it's story told by the boat captain and the
boat ride over to the restaurant are enough to draw anyone in, but it's
the food that is fabulous! After drinks in the separate bar and grill
which is super quaint and beckons one back on a stormy night, the
restaurant was just great. Floors are wavy from age so those not sure of
their footing should be aware.
Service was excellent, menu is absolutely wonderful and the dolphin,
shrimp and broiled seafood platter just melted in your mouth. Wow! The
spicy dolphin bites were out of this world and it's so tempting to
return again and again.
Parking in the lot was easy and reservations were accepted with that
days phone call. Everyone should experience Caps Place!

Visited March 2016

“Not just Dinner - an experience!”

I've been here a few
times - first with my step son and some friends. We lucked out and got
Nancy as our server - she has the BEST stories of the place, in
addition to being an amazing waitress! Our son had been there many
times and guided us to the Hearts of Palm salad and the crab cakes -
unbelievable. While we waited for food (not a long wait) Nancy regaled
us with stories of the Al Capone days, bootlegging, and various famous
(and infamous) visitors throughout the years. On our way out, we
stopped at the bar and discovered they had our unique favorite "43
tips" so of course we had a shot! (Son was designated driver...) We
had so much fun, we took my elderly parents during the holidays. I was
worried about the boat ride as my mom isn't that mobile, but I
shouldn't have worried (heck this is Florida, old people Rule). They
made a fuss over her and easily got her on and off the little boat
shuttle. We wandered around the grounds, stopping at the bar, where
they made mom the BEST Manhattan drink - and believe me, she knows her
Manhattans! The Bartender was a total riot. My parents loved the
stories (we forgot to ask for Nancy, but she stopped by and told us
stories anyway!). My dad was looking at the photos on the wall across
from our table, and those folks invited him to sit down and told him
stories from their 30+ years of visiting Cap's Place. How fun is that?
We returned again a few months later with family and friends all
visiting. We couldn't get a reservation, so we took over the bar area
and discovered we could easily get all our favorites - the crab cakes,
the hearts of palm, some calamari. They (and the bartender) were
extremely accommodating. Yes, it's pricey. Yes, it's a shack. Yes,
they apparently occasionally run out of stuff, although we haven't
experienced that. Yes, it's hard to get a reservation sometimes. But
for us? Totally worth the effort!

Reviewed
November, 2015

“Best crab cakes I've ever had!”

Loved
this place! Started off with the neat little boat ride across to the
restaurant. Waitress was very nice and gave good tips to what was
especially good, in addition to a cool history of the place (look it
up, it's really interesting). We started with the escargot, which was
good especially if you've never tried it before. Then we had the palm
salad. Very different (it's the actual palm tree), but very good!
Several of us ordered the crab cakes, and they were the best I've ever
had! 98% crab meat and the other 2% is just holding the meat together.
The remoulade sauce for dipping was yummy. We asked what was in the
crab cakes and the waitress said if she told, even though she's been
there for years, she'd be fired and escorted off the premises. They
were that seriously delicious! Finally, we got a piece of key lime pie
to go (too full to enjoy it then), and it was very tasty as well. So
definitely try this place out, and if you like crab cakes, order those
and you won't be disappointed!

Cap's Place is a dinner out that is so special when shared with your
family. Yes, you must understand, that this is a place where you have to
not be worried about the right side of the menu. We just took our
daughter, husband, 3 year old son and my wife and me on Saturday night.
It was to celebrate Father's Day and a recent promotion for our
daughter. The fish is always so fresh and prepared any way you would
like it. The portions are more than enough to fill you. It is the
quaintness and location that you pay for. An eating establishment since
1928 and with almost a century of history. Our waitstaff was so nice,
remember we had a 3 year old. She remembered us from our last visit,
that was a year ago. Dinner was never rushed and the food was just
outstanding. Our son in law had a rack of lamb that was one of the
biggest I have seen in a restaurant. Grouper was had by two of us and
was fresh and prepared with a light white wine sauce. It was outstanding
and a large portion, for grouper. A seafood platter rounded out the
order. You will spend about 8-10 dollars more for an entree and if you
have drinks and appetizers your bill will climb fast. Know this before
you go and you will have an enjoyable and memorable evening.

This is truly an unforgettable experience to dine at this amazingly
charming historical place. The food is out-of-this-world delicious! The
staff is very friendly and knowledgeable about the food and the history
of this amazing restaurant. It is great for very special celebrations.
You take a boat to the restaurant and that just sets the stage for a
most memorable evening.

What a hidden gem on a little island that you can only get to by a boat
that picks you up at the parking lot. Going inside there are pictures of
FDR and Winston Churchill who came down here to talk about ending WW II.
Al Capone and Jack Dempsey.
Service was quality and very well done. The food was excellent. Our
choice was the Catch of the day which was grouper. We had it broiled and
it was served with a lemon caper sauce. The three of us loved the
smashed sweet potatoes and the grilled veggies. There famous for their
heart of Palm salad which is very different but delightful. For an
appetizer we had calamari with marinara sauce and aioli sauce. We were
full by the time our meal was completed but we made room to share a
piece of their homemade Key Lime pie and it truly was one of the best.
We will be back.

Getting to Cap's is half the fun, taking a small ferry from the
parking lot to the restaurant. Once there the quaint exterior doesn't
prepare you for the excellent food within. All was excellent; however,
the crab cakes were by far the finest that we have ever had! We ordered
them as an appetizer but had we known how very good they were we might
have just dined on them exclusively!

Four of us went there for dinner 4/18/15. Meal was excellent. Service
wonderful. We got there around 5:30 pm and were told there would be a 40
minute wait. As it was raining like a monsoon we decided to stay and
wait. The wait turned out to be just 15 minutes or so and the meal would
have been worth waiting the entire 40 minutes if necessary.
Four different dishes and everyone was well pleased.
Not the cheapest place to eat, but definitely one of the best in the
area.

“We stumbled into this place by looking at Google Maps. What an
experience, probably the highlight of our trip. If nothing else the
history and building are worth the visit. We were very surprised how
great the food was, even the kids meal! The crab cakes were amazing,
full of crab meat. Highly recommended!

I've been to Cap's Place on
three separate occasions and this time was by far the best. It may have
been because the first two times I went with one other person and this
last time I went with a party of eight. It seems as though part of the
fun is experiencing this place with a group of friends. The drinks were
good, the food was delicious! The crab cakes were just that...crab!
Barely any filler, just enough to hold it together and they were still
falling apart with chunks of crab. The bacon wrapped scallops were
equally good. I had the snapper special which was prepared with the tail
and skin (on the bottom) still attached. This may have been the best
snapper I have ever tasted. It was lightly dusted with flour and sautéed
in a lemon butter sauce. My boyfriend had the swordfish special and it
was equally delicious (gorgonzola/spinach topping). We finished off the
meal with a piece of key lime pie (that was all they had to offer). The
pie was good, better than most, but not the best I have ever tried. I
found the prices reasonable for seafood in FL.

The boat ride over is a hoot and the history of this place is
incredible. If you want to experience REAL old Florida charm, this is
the place to go!

We enjoyed
our recent evening at Cap's Place. After reading some of the negative
online reviews, I went with lowered expectations and figured I would just
enjoy the scenery. However, the food was actually very good. The crabcake
appetizer was delicious, and I am not usually a fan of crabcakes. For our
entrees, I had shrimp and my companion had grouper. Our waiter, Ed, was
very pleasant and knowledgeable about the menu. He was helpful in
suggesting items that we may want to try.

Yes, the building is very
old but that is actually the point of the whole place. It is different and
unique compared to what is available in South Florida. As prior reviewers
mentioned, there are cats lounging around the patio, but again, we found
it charming and gave the place a "Key West" feel.

If you are looking for a super fancy, super elegant place for dinner, then
this is not the place for you. But for a fun, out-of-the-ordinary evening,
I found it very extremely enjoyable. I think some people just look for
things to complain about.

If you
like adventure and intrigue, you have to dine at Cap's. First suggestion:
use your GPS to arrive at the Marina on time. After parking, you wait for a mystery boat which
you will board in order to ride about ten minutes to Cap's. The boat
captain will tell you all about the history of Cap's as you appreciate the
local surroundings. After landing, you meander past the separate bar to
enter Cap's and wait to be seated. The four of us sat at a roomy table
with such an accommodating waitress. We ordered our drinks and then
perused the menu with many fish specials. I ordered a clam linguini dish
with whole and chopped clams and toasted Italian cheese encrusted bread
pieces--totally delicious. For dessert, we splurged with a fabulous key
lime pie. What a memorable dinner--in both epicurean and historical
perspectives. Brenda
Mass January 3, 2014

Came
on visit and introduced by locals. The local snapper is sublime. They have
great friendly staff and individually prepare each dish. A visit to the
area should include this historical location. December 28, 2013

We had a great evening here! The short
boat ride as the sun was setting was a great introduction. The food was
very good and the fish was really fresh and very tender. One member of our
party ordered crab cakes which were 95% crab with no filler. The scallops
wrapped in bacon was a generous portion. The yellow fin snapper was
incredibly tender and all the side dishes were tasty. Yes, it is pricey,
but you are also paying for the atmosphere. This is a historic location
and it was fun to hear about it from our very knowledgeable waitress and
to look a tall the olds tires on the wall. However, the much touted key
lime pie was only average. Debbie R Tucson
October
2013

While vacationing in Pompano Beach we
found by chance Cap's Place Island Restaurant and Bar at Lighthouse Point.
We really enjoyed our visit to Cap's Place. The history of the restaurant
was very interesting our waitress Nancy was a joy. The food was wonderful
from beginning to end. We would definitely recommend this place to our
friends and family. Caroll Riverview Florida
July 2013

Hadn't been
to Cap's for about 25 years, and still as I remember it. Wanted a place to
take out of town guests to experience old Florida and wonderful seafood.
Starting with the boat ride over and a brief "island" history get ready to
eat some fresh and delicious seafood. Don't expect an elegant place, it is
rustic and exactly what it should be. There were 4 of us for dinner.
Starting with the crab cakes as recommended by our very knowlegable and
pleasant waiter, and escargot...very good, but the crab cakes were such a
hit we ordered another plate! We all ordered something different. I
started with fresh hearts of palm salad and if you have only ever had palm
from a can, you must order these to experience what fresh hearts of palm
tastes like, just wonderful. I also ordered the special Yellowtail
Snapper, which was very fresh and cooked perfectly, for your side I would
suggest the chive mashed potatoes...yum! One of our guests ordered the
1.5lb stuffed main lobster, she hasn't stopped talking about it. All and
all a great meal and a fun way to spend a beautiful Florida evening.

We had
the honor of closing Cap’s Place last Friday night and I felt a kinship
with numerous historical figures. Don’t be fooled by the glitz of Boca,
Palm Beach, etc. – Cap’s Place is the real deal. Fresh tenderly cooked
fish, the old South Florida recipe for palm salad and a creamy, tangy key lime pie all
in the ambience of a cabin on an island in the great blue ocean. Cap’s
also had great servers with humor, knowledge and so friendly. There are
many amazing places to eat in this multi-town strip of Florida seashore but go here
if you want fabulous food and a slice of the real along with your pie. It
is a ride you don’t want to miss.

Our
local friends encouraged us to dine at Caps while visiting the area. We
were guided to the parking lot and dock by one of the staff and
transported by boat to the restaurant. It's rustic appearance and history
are fascinating but the real draw is the outstanding food and service. Our
choices included escargot, crab cakes and salmon; we have never had
better! The service was beyond professional with very engaging staff
ensuring that we were comfortable and enjoyed this unique experience.

Even
though I have lived in Fort Lauderdale
for 16 years, I only heard of Cap's two years ago. When mom and dad
vitsited fron Kentucky they wanted to go there for their last dinner in
Fort Lauderdale.
The entire experience was great from the boat ride to the island, the
rustic old Florida atmosphere, the fun/friendly service and the delicious
food.

Our captain was fun and informative. we got there a little early and had a
drink at the bar and viewed all the old pictures and antique items. The
bar really takes you back in time and the bartender was very nice. The
dining room was also very rustic and filled with old pictures and
artifacts. if you are into history you will love Cap's place.

Our server, Nancy, was great fun. we joked and laughed with her, but when
it came time to order we took her recommendations very seriously. The crab
cakes and yellow tail snapper, incredible!! the blue cheese dressing,
delicious! The crab cakes are made the way they should be with no bread
crumbs. ALL CRAB MEAT! Cap's has a great chef. we heard rumors from the
boat captain that the chef also makes the best fried chicken, but it's not
on the menu (maybe somday). even the side dishes were great. sweet potato
mash and sauteed squash.

I can't say enough about what a great time we had. the food was great,
Nancy and the entire dining room staff from hostess to busser and even the
other servers really made you feel at home and were very attentive.
Besides being a lot of fun, Nancy was really knowledgable of the menu and informative about
the history of the restaurant. She really enhanced an already wonderful
experience.I I will definitly be back. it is a great place to bring family
and friends visting south Florida

We
hadn't been to Cap's Place in many years, but decided to go when we wanted
a special dinner out. We enjoyed the boat ride over, but the food is what
we will go back for. Excellent seafood, tasty and fresh salad and
dressings, friendly and helpfull waitress, and the historic atmosphere
that chains simply cannot compete with. We were surprised that on a
Saturday night the place was not packed. Not cheap, but no more expensive
than most of the restaurants that supposedly sell fresh seafood. Snapper
was perfectly prepared, melt in your mouth texture, and the shrimp were
large and sauteed just until done. Will definitely go back soon!

I
brought my family of 4 to Cap's place, after boat ride over, just takes a
few minutes, they seated us. Great service, I had the broiled seafood
platter, it was very tasty. My wife had the sauteed Yellowtail snapper, it
was the best I have ever tasted. The soups, crabcakes, bread, were all
wonderful and very fresh. My mother had the sauteed Grouper with fresh
fruit salsa, again, outstanding. I would recommend to all my family and
freinds. Satisfied Customer.

I'm
surprised by reviews saying they didn't care for the food or it was over
priced. My friend ordered oyster's rockefeller and they came out on a big
platter and still brought one more out that wouldn't fit. The oysters were
huge and they tasted great! All our meals were very good. (the clam
linguinie was super) We had been in the area for almost two weeks and the
price seemed comparable to the other restaurants we had been to. But even
past the food, this is an experience to be had even if you just came over
for a drink. You get on this little boat that will hold several (nothing
fancy but nothing shabby either) You go 10 minutes through the canal
waterway with lots of pretty houses to look at. Then you come up on
literally what looks like a large garage. When you read the history you
get what you are looking at and it makes sense.. When you get inside it is
quaint and rustic and feels rich with history. I mean Roosevelt and
Churchill used to meet here. Ernest Hemingway used to drink here and we
were told that earlier this year Bill Clinton came here The food was great
and our server was more than attentive but just to go to somewhere that
isn't your usual beach fair or basic restaurant is pretty darn cool. It
has been what we have told the folks back home about the most out of our
whole trip. CapsPlace was unusual, interesting, a great meal and a great
experience.

I'm a
crab cake snob, and these are the best. Next time I will get the crab cake
appetizer & the crab cake entree! It's a charming old place. Other
reviewers commented that it's a "shack"- well, it's been in business since
the 1920's with little to no renovation. It's part of the charm. It's hard
to find but so worth the effort! The short boat ride is neat too. If
you're looking for fancy, go elsewhere. If you're up for an adventure & a
unique atmosphere, Cap's is it. Get the crab cakes! Lgo987 December, 2011

This is
a laid back, Old Florida restaurant that is one of the best seafood
restaurants in the country!! The people are REAL! The atmosphere is
casual...with a hint of yester-year elegance. I have been visiting this
little treasure since 1959. I have introduced countless friends and
relatives to Cap's! I will continue visiting as often as I am in Florida.
In the '80s, when our children were small, we were once treated to an
interruption in our dinner to join the staff outside to look North and see
a Space Shuttle launce! Such caring and wonderful things do NOT happen at
'generic' restaurants...which now abound in Florida, and everywhere! Dear
Cap's Place--- Don't change a thing!! (And DO NOT run out of Hearts of
Palm salad!! The Ferrara family LOVES YOU!!!

Originally built in the 20's Cap's Place is a historic part of Old Florida
charm which is becoming increasingly scarce. Get cocktails in the separate
bar and read the captions on pictures of a Florida which is long gone.
Walk, read and relax in the same footsteps, and uneven floorboards, of
Florida's pioneers, visionaries, bootleggers, smugglers and scoundrels.
The authentic wooden frame building is old and sun-washed, but inside is
clean, inviting and the definition of Old Florida ambiance. The staff
seems genuine and happy to be there. The walls filled with Florida
history. FDR and Churchill were served food from Cap's while staying
nearby before leaving for England from Florida instead of Washington to
deceive the wolfpacks!

We have
never had a bad meal or bad service. The filet mignon is great and my wife
was impressed by the seafood medley, enough to have ordered it a second
time. However, if you require everything done for you and your every need
fulfilled , stay in Boca at Mizner with the fancy chefs, accountants,
Credit-default swappers and Ponzi schemers! CAUTION, every aspect of this
experience has NOT been cleverly engineered so you can feel good about
yourself. Boats have exhaust, old wooden buildings have lumpy floors, the skys' blue, waters' wet. The unscripted experience can supercharge the
romantic environment. It drizzled the first evening we went there. The
canvas cover on the shuttle LEAKED! Can you believe it, canvas leaks! We
found the drier area, I placed my coat down so she could be more
comfortable, that's one reason you wear one, not just because it makes you
look better, then we put the umbrella back up, IN THE BOAT! Married 27
years and the night was already off to a magic start. This is not a cheap
place to eat but do yourself a favor and skip more of the glorified bar
food out there and be part of a real Florida experience.

"This food is as
pricey as big city fare, but it's unadorned: Take me as I am, or don't
take me at all. And those who think a big fresh piece of fish needs to be
slathered in some frou-frou sauce, with a bunch of hand-carved vegetable
rosettes on the side, can damn well go elsewhere."

As a
South Florida native, I had never heard about Cap's Place until recently -
so we decided to make our 1st visit - and it's not around the corner - we
drove over 1 hour to give em a try - and boy am I glad we did! What a
fantastic piece of nostalgia - ah, old Florida before it was all built up
and cement jungle!

The food was very good - slightly pricey, but I think you're paying for
the experience. Our server, Ron, was fantastic! When we told him this was
our 1st visit, he took the time to explain the history of the restaurant
and the hearts of palm, and went over all of the specials in detail. My
husband ordered the crab cake appetizer - fantastic! Just slightly breaded
and full of fresh lump crab meat - WOW! For dinner, our party ordered the
crab cake dinner (2 huge crab cakes); scallops (8 huge scallops slightly
breaded, broiled in a white wine & garlic sauce); bacon wrapped scallops
(8 huge bacon wrapped scallops); and sesame crusted salmon w/honey mustard
glaze. For our sides, there was brown rice w/fresh spinach pieces, mashed
sweet potatoes & grilled veggies. We all thoroughly enjoyed our meal!

If you haven't experienced Cap's Place, or even if you have, this place
should be visited at least every 3-4 months - I'm so glad I didn't listen
to the negative reviews - this place ROCKS!